Savery is flying as Leamington C&AC claim county championship bronze

The Warwickshire Cross-country Championships took place on an unseasonably warm day at Newbold Comyn last Saturday.

Again the race was held in conjunction with the Worcestershire Championships, with the host club Leamington C&AC’s Ray Morgan presenting the trophies as part of his duties as Warwickshire County AA president.

For the fourth successive year, Jack Gray (BRAT) was Warwickshire champion, leading right from the off over three laps and 10k of mainly good surface running.

Kenilworth Runners’ Paddy Roddy won the individual silver in the seniors’ race after coming home in 36:03 (fourth overall).

Leamington’s senior men gained a team bronze through Andy Savery (6th in 36:22), Phil Gould (12th in 37:46), Jamie Langley (13th in 38:04) and Paul Andrew (21st in 40:58), finishing just two points shy of silver.

Debutant Dom Hull (41:10) was the host club’s fifth member in 24th followed by the Eoin O’Flynn (20th master in 41:15).

With less than a minute separating Leamington’s three fastest seniors in the two Birmingham League meetings this season, there was always going to be healthy competition to be the first counter in the women’s’ race.

Jenny Jeeves was the first to show and led through most of the first of two laps.

She was chased hard by Zara Blower, with Sue Harrison tracking them closely.

Well into the final mile of the demanding four-mile course Blower eased past Jeeves, quickly followed by Harrison. As the finish line approached, Harrison dug deep to open a small gap on Blower, with Jeeves still keeping them in her sights.

Leamington C&AC's Phil Gould tracks WorcesterAC's Jake Watson.

Harrison crossed the line in 12th place in 26:39 (17th overall), with Blower just six seconds and a place back (20th overall).

Jeeves, who like Harrison could have run in the masters’ race, took 15th place in 27:03, with just 24 seconds separating the three C&AC athletes.

Nuneaton Harriers took team gold after a battle with the BRAT club from Birmingham, who claimed silver.

The race for bronze was a close-fought thing with Leamington’s close packing proving key as just seven points separated third to fifth.

The team counters were well supported, with Courtney Thornberry finishing 21st in 29:51 after a long battle with Faye Barr (22nd in 29:54).

Laura Gould was 83rd (31st master) in 32:15, with Wendy Woodhouse 111th in 34:09 and Delia Caruana 147th in 37:59.